Handgrip for golf clubs and the like



May 7, 1935. J. M. OLDHAM I HANDGRIP FOR GOLF CLUBS AND THE LIKE FiledDec. 31, 1931 INVENTOR w 6 N NMQW ATTORNEYS Patented May 7, 1935 John M.Oldham, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Leonard A. Young, Detroit, Mich.

Application December 31, 1931, Serial No. 584,171

1 Claim.

My invention relates to. improvements in implement handles and moreparticularly to the handles or hand-grip portions of golf clubs.

It has been the practiceheretofore to construct golf club grip or handleportions by first spirally winding a strip or strips of cork about theclub shaft and subsequently interposing a strip of leather between theconvolutions of the spirally wound cork strips. This practice isobjectionable in that the finished handle is not uniform in contour andindentations and projections are produced upon the surface of thehandle, particularly where the strips of cork join. Moreover extremecare is required in winding the cork so that the convolutions will be intrue spaced relation.

With these objections in mind, it is the principal object of the presentinvention to provide a pre-formed sleeve, formed in the making thereof,with a spiral groove in its outer surface, so that a fiat tape-likestrip may be laid within this groove after the sleeve-like member hasbeen applied to the golf stick shaft, whereby the surfaces of the sleeveand leather strip will lie flush with each other and produce a gripwhich is free from indentations or projections.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a hand grip forsporting implements, such as golf clubs, which includes a pre-formedtubular member of yieldable material, such as,

cork, and is such that it may be readily applied to any golf club shaftand when in position thereon, will be firmly held against displacement.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the inventionconsists in the .construction, arrangement and combination of elements,all as hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out in theappended claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a golf club illustrative of an embodimentof the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed view showing the hand grip portion of theclub, partly in section and partly in elevation; a

Fig. 3 is a view, in elevation, of a leather strip adapted to form apart of said hand grip of the club; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse section substantially upon the line 4-4 of Fig.2.

Referring to the invention in detail, a preformed sleeve member 5 ofsuitable length and thickness, having a tapered lower end 6, isprovided. This sleeve may be formed from a sheet of cork or othersuitable material possessing the desired yieldable quality, or it may,if found desirable, be formed in a mold to the desired shape, size andform.

For cooperation with this cork'sleeve in providing a frictional handgripping surface, a fiat tape-like strip, l G of leather or othersuitable material, is provided, and this strip is wound within a spiralgroove I I formed in the periphery of the sleeve and extending from endto end of the same. As shown in Fig. 2, this strip is of a width andthickness to exactly'fill said spiral groove with the outer surface ofsaid strip lying flush with the periphery of the sleeve, andthereforethe grip surface will be uniform throughout the length of the sleeve asthe strip lies flat upon the smooth, flat, continuous bottom of thegroove and all indentations or projections at the S111"? face of thegrip will be eliminated.

Before winding the-strip ll! into the groove H, the walls of the grooveand the contacting side and edges of the strip may be coated with asuitable adhesive, so that the strip will be firmly anchored within thegroove, and during this winding of the strip, it is drawn relativelytaut so as to compress the wall of the bore of the sleeve and press itagainst the shaft "1, thereby aiding in the securing of the sleeve inplace upon the shaft. If found desirable, the end portion of the shaftto which the sleeve is to be applied may also becoated with a suitableadhesive to aid in securing the sleeve in place.

In order to provide a finish for the outer end of the sleeve and protectthe same against wear, a suitable cap I2 is attached to the end of theshaft by a removable fastening l3, and as shown, an'annular flange orskirt I4 may be provided on the cap to surround and overlie the outerend of the sleeve.

By the provision of a hand grip such as herein disclosed the usualgripping qualities of leather and cork are had, andat the same time, ahand grip having a uniform hand grip surface is provided due to themanner in which the cork sleeve is formed and theaccuracy and smoothnesswith which said strip may be laid within the groove in said sleeve. .Itwill also be apparent that my invention is an aid in the manufacture ofgolf clubs, in that the pre-formed sleeve may be readily slipped ontothe handle end of the shaft and does not require the skill which isnecessary in winding a cork strip and uniformly spacing itsconvolutions, as with known constructions.

What I claim is:- I A hand grip for golf club shafts comprising acontinuous one piece sleeve formed. of cork or other material of limitedcompressible, disintegratable, and non-slip characteristics in the handof the player and telescoped over an end portion of the shaft, saidsleeve being pre-formed with a spiral groove of extended width in theexterior surface thereof; and a flat strip of a width to fit closelywithin said groove and of inelastic material having a smooth wearresisting exterior surface, wound about said sleeve within said grooveunder tension to firmly clamp and hold said sleeve in firm contact withsaid club shaft and protect the exposed portions of said I,

sleeve between the turns of said groove, said strip being of a thicknessto fill said groove flush with the exterior surface of said sleevebetween the turns of said strip and being cemented within said groove tofirmly hold said strip throughout its entire length flat upon the bottomof said groove, said turns of said strip together providing a smoothwear resisting surface forming an extended portion of the hand gripsurface with thenon-slip surface of the sleeve exposed and slightlybulged between said turns by the 10 compression of said sleeve by saidstrip.

JOHN M. OLDHAM.

